'It's not a place you want to be...' - Jos Buttler worries about 'poor' Dharamsala outfield ahead of England vs Bangladesh 2023 World Cup

England captain Jos Buttler has criticised the outfield in Dharamsala ahead of their 2023 ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh. The defending champions are gearing up for their second match at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium on Tuesday, October 10. However, the English team is concerned about playing in an 'average-rated' outfield as their skipper feels it is not an ideal venue. 

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Earlier on Saturday, Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb ur Rehman escaped serious injury in a visible patchy Dharamsala outfield during the match against Bangladesh. Following the incident, the Cricket Governing Body rated the outfield as 'average' but the ENG vs BAN match was given the green signal after an inspection by pitch consultant Andy Atkinson on Sunday.

Pictures and videos of Mujeeb hurting himself due to a lack of grass and a patchy surface while trying to save a boundary in the deep have gone viral on social media. Small sand bursts and fielders from both teams slipping in their attempts while chasing the ball were a regular sight during Saturday's game in Dharamsala. Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott said that players were hesitant to put in dives as well. 

It's poor in my own opinion: Jos Buttler 

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Buttler also echoed former England cricketer Trott's comments that if players have to think twice before diving or putting their bodies on the line, that's not a place a team or player wants to be. 

“Yeah, a few I think, it's poor in my own opinion. I think any time you're sort of talking about being careful diving or sort of being careful when you're fielding, it sort of goes against everything you want to be as a team,” Buttler was quoted as saying in the pre-match press conference.

“You know you want to dive through our houses to save a run. So that's obviously not ideal, the way the surface is, the outfield. But we won't use it as an excuse, we'll adapt to it. But yeah, certainly if you feel like you have to hold yourself back, it's not a place you want to be as a team or player, or in a World Cup match,” he added.

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Notably, the upcoming match is crucial for Buttler and Co. after losing their first match to New Zealand by nine wickets at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Set out with a target of 283 runs, England were hammered by a record-breaking partnership of two Kiwi left-handers, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.